EDUCATION: A SMART WAY TO FIGHT AIDS

Ann LandersCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Dear Readers: I recently received a copy of a report sent to President Clinton titled "Youth and HIV/AIDS." The report notes that every year between 40,000 and 80,000 Americans become infected with HIV. Approximately half of those infected are under age 25. This means between two and four young people are infected with HIV every hour of every day.

The report, which was requested by President Clinton and prepared by Patricia Fleming, White House AIDS policy chief, represents a collaboration between the National AIDS Fund and the Until There's a Cure Foundation. It highlights the fact that specific groups are at greater risk. The most vulnerable are runaways and out-of-school youth, illiterate adolescents, teenagers who have disabilities and young gay and bisexual males--especially those of color.

Knowledge of one's HIV status can be an important part in preventing the spread of AIDS, but too many young people do not know they are infected until they have passed the disease to someone else. The report further points out that although voluntary, confidential HIV testing and counseling would encourage young people to find out if they are infected, there are still barriers that prevent such testing.

The report outlines a series of steps that can be taken by the federal government to help increase awareness among young people in this country. It concludes, however, that the government cannot resolve these problems on its own. All individuals, communities and public and private institutions must be actively committed to combating the spread of HIV among America's youth.

Education is the key to prevention. I hope thousands of teachers around the country who read this column will send for this report. It should be discussed in the classrooms. Eighth-graders are not too young to be made aware of it. Remember, knowledge is power, and we need all the power we can muster to fight this dreaded disease.

For a copy of the report, call the National HIV/AIDS Hotline, 1-800-342-AIDS (TTY 1-800-243-7889), or write to the Centers for Disease Control National AIDS Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, Md., 20849-6003. The report can also be viewed or downloaded from the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse World Wide Web site: http://www.cdcnac.org.

The old saying, "What you don't know can't hurt you," does not hold true when it comes to AIDS prevention. It not only can HURT you, it can KILL.

Your first line of defense is information. If young people were truly aware of the agony and pain of the end stages of AIDS, they would be a lot more cautious when it comes to sex.

Appearances can be deceiving

Dear Ann Landers: Another word about handicapped parking, please.

Not all handicapped people are in wheelchairs, on crutches or using canes. The problem may be multiple sclerosis, lupus, asthma, bronchitis, heart trouble, emphysema or cancer. These illnesses are not always obvious.

A person may appear to be fit but may require handicapped parking. Likewise, the people who yell at them may appear to be intelligent.

Looking Fit and Trying Hard in Detroit

Dear Detroit: Thank you on behalf of all the folks who have wanted to write about this but never got around to it.

Gem of the Day: Keep smiling. Even when life knocks you flat on your back, you are still in a good position to look up.